1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
The team also caught a break as far as their catching depth with veteran Eric Haase clearing waivers and starting for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats on Wednesday.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Mike Kaye
june 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Areas closest to the Arctic Circle will have the greatest chance of catching a glimpse of the lights.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
In the snaps, Hemsworth can be seen catching waves alongside his twin sons, Sasha and Tristan, 12, as well as cliff jumping and spending time with some friends by the water.
—Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
The team also caught a break as far as their catching depth with veteran Eric Haase clearing waivers and starting for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats on Wednesday.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Brooks shouldn’t be limited to just pass-catching and third-down work, regardless of the timing of the season.
—Mike Kaye
june 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
Areas closest to the Arctic Circle will have the greatest chance of catching a glimpse of the lights.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
Changing litter daily can also limit exposure as toxoplasma eggs need 1 to 5 days to become infectious.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
But the energy of the production is infectious.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The best know how to play through grabbing or shoving of various degrees.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Wembanyama finished Game 6 with 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Best Amazon Outlet Dress Deals There’s something about summer that makes getting dressed feel dramatically easier once dresses enter the picture.—
Aashna Gheewalla,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
However, some critics are also concerned that getting a weight loss prescription online is usually much easier than getting one through an in-person appointment.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The latest the series can end is June 17; the shield stopping him from answering questions — not just about his past, but his present and future — is likely to stay in place.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Texas is split down the middle on which issue should take priority — stopping voter fraud or preventing eligible citizens from being turned away at the ballot box — as a poll shows the split is not a sign of moderation but of deep partisan polarization.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Locally, these priorities have taken shape as the SHIPS for America Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at modernizing domestic shipyards, supporting a business corridor along Interstate 80, and securing funding for climate resiliency projects to counteract sea-level rise.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Katrina Talamantes ran unopposed in the 3rd District, securing re-election to a third term.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Alsing noted that technical capabilities can be learned, emphasizing that a skill that compounds over a career is being comfortable with not knowing and figuring it out anyway.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 June 2026
-
Then there’s the psychological barrier of knowing your meals will be repetitive, or worse, if certain experiments prove practical, that your last … uh… output … could become your next input.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
While Matthew and Mu-won started Gojeuneok Bio together, Chang-ho has launched a cosmetics company that makes its money by tricking smaller companies into giving away the secrets behind their products.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
The church hosts sure love tricking us into eating raw broccoli by serving it up in this creamy pasta salad.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Google Pixel 10 Pro owners are encountering a significant hurdle when trying to access Google's advanced AI features.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The best safety measure when encountering bees near nests is to leave the area and create distance to avoid being stung by female carpenter bees.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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